Electrical binding post

ABSTRACT

A post or terminal for electrical circuits provided with a spring for retaining engagement of wire with post.

United States Patent [191 Flammini ELECTRICAL BINDING POST St., San Diego, Calif. 92103 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,976

[52] US. Cl 339/254 R [51] Int. Cl H0lr 11/22 [58] Field of Search 339/254 R, 255 R, 255 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,457 ll/19l6 Kreeft 339/254 R Apr. 23, 1974 781,091 l/l905 Phillips.... 1,694,239 12/1928 Thonsen.....

Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Tom Sherrard [57] ABSTRACT A post or terminal for electrical circuits provided with a spring for retaining engagement of wire with post.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures ELECTRICAL BINDING POST BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:

Of all the conventional forms of spring-clamping posts'none permit wires to be inserted into positive and automatically aligned orifices. Post of this class have usually required visual alignment by the operator to permit the wire conductor to be inserted through both the stationary and movable parts of the post. For example, Kreeft U.S. Pat. No. 1,204,457 has attempted to secure automatic alignment by use of a protrusion on the stationary outside casing which fits into a groove in the plunger. This form is relatively expensive to manufacture and assemble.

I have provided a new improved post that can be used in the most inaccessible places. Visual alignment of orifices is not necessary so that device can be used in wall plugs, which are flush with the wall and are closely surrounded by construction material. My novel post can be used wherever it is inconvenient to use conventional terminals. I

Furthermore, a modification of my post permits the plunger to be easily and quickly inserted and removed from its casing during manufacture or at any time after installation.

SUMMARY My invention consists of a fixed hollow post which serves as an electrical conductor with a plunger operatively mounted within it. By suitable orifices through the post and plunger together with my novel alignment means, a wire conductor may be inserted into the assembly and a circuit formed in places which would otherwise be inaccessible to-those persons using conventional posts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my improved binding post without a wire inserted therein.

FIG. la is a top plan view of a cross section thereof.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section thereof with plunger depressed and wire conductor inserted therein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of my device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of such modification showing it in use with a wire conductor inserted therein.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout, the numeral of FIG. 1 designates the complete unit ready for use. It features an outer casing 18 made of metal conductor, preferably having a hollow cylindrical configuration with the top end open and the base closed. This casing is suitable for connection to any usual electrical conductor (not illustrated) to complete a circuit when in use. The casing and other parts may be of such size and shape for use in wall outlet boses and other non-protruding places.

Dual orifices 20 are providedtransversally through the casing in the upper portion ,therof. They may be of various sizes to accommodate usual bare electrical wire 28. Vertical slot 22 is provided from the top of the casing down a substantial distance on the side as can best be seen in FIG. 1. It may, at the option'of the manufacture be a single slot, or dual oppositely disposed slots, as shown in FIG. la. This form of the casing permits plunger 14 to be taken in or out of the casing at any time.

As an extension of each slot 22, I have provided vertical slot 22c in the body of the casing. Itis limited at top at point 22a and at base at point 22b. This serves as a guide for automatic registering orifices for use. It is an important feature of my invention as an operator may insert wires into the post without visually aligning the orifices.

Turning now to a modification of the casing, attention is directed to FIGS. 4 and 5. The modification deletes slot 22. This modified form does not permit the plunger to be removed after manufacture.

Slidably mounted in the casing is plunger 14. It is of solid construction, preferably of the same material as the casing. The upper portion 12 may be enlarged to serve as a head or button for' manual operation. A transverse orifice 16 is barreled out entirely through the plunger slightly below the shoulder of the head. It is of the same diameter as casing orifice 20. When the two orifices align, a wire may be inserted.

Novel guide pin 24 is integral with plunger 14. It is mounted transversally on a wall of the plunger and is positioned to slide within slot 22c, which slot serves as a guide to insure proper alignment and register of orifices 20 and 16. The pin may extend all the way through the plunger for dual guidance, as shown in FIG. la.

Spiral spring 26 completes the invention. It is positioned within the casing and rests at the base thereof. Its upper coil is in contact with one end of the plunger. Manual depression of the plunger compresses the spring, aligns the orifices and permits the operator to b. dual transverse orifices aligned with each other through the casing,

c. a guide slot portion also provided in the casing having a substantially J -shaped configuration with one vertical segment closed at each end, another vertical segment closed at one end with an openchannel extending through the end of the casing and a transverse section connecting the vertical segments,

. a plunger slidably mounted in the casing,

e. a pin transversally integral with the plunger operatively mounted in the guide slot,

f. a channel portion transversally journaled through the plunger located to automatically align with the orifices when the plunger is manually depressed as far as possible, and,

g. spring means positioned between the inner base of the casing and one end of the plunger biasing the pin in the upper end of the vertical segment, said 3 4 plunger being moveable against the bias of the other vertical segment, whereby a straight wire ex- Sprmg means to Place the pm m the lower end of tending through the orifices and channel portion said one vertical segment aligning the channel and orificies said plunger being moveable out of said casing through said transverse section and said an- 5 will be held in place by spring tension. 

1. An electrical binding post comprising: a. a casing closed at one end and opened at the other, b. dual transverse orifices aligned with each other through the casing, c. a guide slot portion also provided in the casing having a substantially J-shaped configuration with one vertical segment closed at each end, another vertical segment closed at one end with an open channel extending through the end of the casing and a transverse section connecting the vertical segments, d. a plunger slidably mounted in the casing, e. a pin transversally integral with the plunger operatively mounted in the guide slot, f. a channel portion transversally journaled through the plunger located to automatically align with the orifices when the plunger is manually depressed as far as possible, and, g. spring means positioned between the inner base of the casing and one end of the plunger biasing the pin in the upper end of the vertical segment, said plunger being moveable against the bias of the spring means to place the pin in the lower end of said one vertical segment aligning the channel and orificies said plunger being moveable out of said casing through said transverse section and said another vertical segment, whereby a straight wire extending through the orifices and channel portion will be held in place by spring tension. 